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Here comes the sun: a spring guide to Boston

A Freedom Trail tour guide speaks to visitors of Boston about the historic sites near Quincy Market on Sunday. Photo by Justina Wong/DFP Staff

The sporadic spring weather that Boston endures may come as a shock to many non-New Englanders. But when the temperature is up and the clouds have passed, the Hub offers plenty of attractions for Boston University students to take advantage of on sunny afternoons.

 

Whale Watching
Late April marks the start of whale watching season in New England. Companies such as Boston Harbor Cruises offer tour-goers the opportunity to view the underwater mammals from high-speed catamarans. Ticket prices can be steep, at about $40 per adult, according to the Harbor Cruises’ website. The cruises set sail from Long Wharf dock from early April through November. Visit the company’s website for a complete listing of times and ticket prices.

Gloucester Beach
Looking to escape Boston altogether? Spend the day in Gloucester, which is located approximately 40 miles north of Boston and is accessible by the Green Line T and commuter rail via North Station on the Newburyport/ Rockport Line. Basking in the sun is a good option at any one of the port town’s many beaches, including Good Harbor Beach, Cressy’s Beach, Half Moon Beach, Niles Beach, Pavilion Beach, Plum Cove Beach or Wingaersheek Beach.

Boston Common/
Public Garden
BU Beach got you down? Why not bring your work or play off campus? Hop on the Green Line T and exit at Park Street, and there you will find Boston’s most infamous green space, the Boston Common. Lounge under the shade of a giant oak tree or toss a Frisbee around with some friends. Not only is the Common free of Ultimate Frisbee, Terrier tours and Quidditch players, but it is also adjacent to the Boston Public Garden. For $2.75 you can take part in one of the city’s time-honored traditions, a swan boat ride on the lagoon. Swan boats will be accessible beginning April 16. Rides take place seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Following your swan boat ride, explore the Victorian Garden’s winding paths lined with native and non-native plant species.

Freedom Trail
Walk, run or bike it. Take advantage of Boston’s historical past with a stop or two along the Freedom Trail. Follow the 2.5 miles of cobblestone as it winds through downtown Boston and neighboring Charlestown. Scattered along the trail are sites that took center stage in America’s founding – the Bunker Hill Monument, the USS Constitution, Paul Revere’s House, the Old North Church, the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, the Massachusetts State House and many more. The Freedom Trail Foundation offers specialty tours in addition to the standard walking tour, or you can walk it independently. The Freedom Trail is accessible at all hours of the day. However, hours of operation for each site vary.

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